To Be in a Better Place

We probably underestimate the impact of the spaces we occupy at home and work. Psychologists argue that our emotions and behaviour are profoundly affected by our surroundings. Within the next decade, more than a million new homes and 100 new hospitals will be built, and many schools will be refurbished. So can architects really incorporate people’s feelings into their designs, or are they under too much pressure to deliver rapid solutions? Do they have the freedom to make their own mark on the landscape with stunning structures?

Striking a balance between economics and social issues is not easy and there is plenty of research to reveal what different environments do to our attitudes and behaviour. A brand-new, gleaming and clutter-free office may look attractive, but people can be more productive if they are allowed to personalise their work space with their own stuff. A hospital’s layout can affect patients’ health. And a sympathetic approach to urban design and green spaces can help cut crime.

Television programmes such as Grand Designs, A Place in the Sun and Britain’s Dream Homes inspire us to live in better places. What are we searching for? A sense of peace? Space? Or just an investment?

Environmental psychologists are increasingly in demand, contributing to the planning, design and management of different environments. Our panel members - an architect, an environmental psychologist, a curator and a neuroscientist - will discuss these issues, and are keen to hear your views.

Event organised by:
The European Dana Alliance for the Brain

Speakers

Morten Kringelback, neuroscientist, Oxford University
Chris Spencer, environmental psychologist, Sheffield University
Sally Tallant, curator, Serpentine Gallery, London
Will Wimshurst, architect, Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, London
Facilitator: Chris Kennard, Oxford University